Another question - 38 or 50 years - I'm gonna wear y'all down

[KristiKelly]

Okay, a question I forgot to ask about. I know that everyone says, buy where you want to stay. Well, being in NC, Hilton Head is only a few hours away. We will definitely be spending time there. When we went last fall, we rented points for BCV & loved it there. DH mentioned buying @ one of these, HH prices are pretty low too. I mentioned to him that there is a 12 year difference in the "life" of these contracts. I want to buy SSR just for that, I really don't know if that would be our 1st choice to stay, though. We just LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the whole Boardwalk, Beach Club area. I guess what I want to know is 38 or 50 years??? What are your opinions??? How many more DVC will they build??? If you buy into SSR with the 50 year window, in 38 years, BCV, Boardwalk, etc. will no longer be options for those with the 50 year contracts. Will there be other resorts?? I'm just curious if some of you with 38 years left wish you had 50, would extend to 50 years if offered?

Sorry for all the questions, I'll try not to be a worry wart, but I'm just really excited since DH is actually "tuning in" to the whole idea of this. I told him the 2 contracts for SSR were now pending & he said "Oh, I was going to get you to call it" Well, isn't that just great, I'm always a day late.

thanks and please be patient with me

 

[Chuck S]

I think a lot of the 38/50 year question depends on how old you are right now, and how old you will be in 38 or 50 years. If you feel you will still be in good enough health to enjoy the resort, I say go for SSR, but be aware that you may have trouble trading into the popular, smaller DVC resorts at the 7 month window. If you're OK with that,,,I'd buy SSR.

If on the otherhand you are "approaching" middle age, the 38/50 year difference may make no real difference to you. and you can buy at the resort you want to stay at most often.

As far as "New" DVC resorts with the 50 year contracts, right now SSR is the only one, as that approaches sell out, look for them to begin construction on Eagle Pines (assuming sales are still strong). Eagle Pines is also planned to be a fairly large resort, less in the "Hotel" style and more in the "Condo" style of SSR & OKW. Eagle Pines was announced prior to SSR, but was put on hold, since the "old" Disney Institure property was already equipped with basic infrastruture.

Do NOT purchase on the assumption that more DVC resorts will be built - or not built- buy where you will be happy. there may be some unforeseen circumstances that may limit us to our home resorts only - though unlikely. Incidents could include a devastating fire at a resort or a natural disaster.

 

[TinksDH]

Here is one family's perspective (and I'm sure you'll get different yet equally valid perspectives from other members).

We have owned at VB since May '01. So far we have stayed at BWV in June '02 in a 1bd (made the ressies 4 months out), OWK in March '03 in a 1bd (made the ressies 5 months out), BCV in June '04 in a 2 bd (made the ressies 7 months out), VWL in June '04 in a 2 bd (made the ressies 7 months out), and VB in June '04 in a beach cottage (made the ressies 11 months out). Last week we made a ressie for HH in a GV for October '04 (3-1/2 months out).

So far we've gotten everything we've asked for in the WDW area even with owning at VB and only having a 7 month booking window. HOWEVER, we are flexible with location when we book at WDW (although we have always gotten our first choice either when we made the ressie or by being waitlisted), AND we also travel at the front end of the busy summer season. We get out of school earlier here in the Midwest than the Northeast (and the Northeast has the largest population of DVCers). We bought at VB at the time due to 1) price and 2) we wanted to ensure a beach cottage. Similarly, we are buying a HH resale so we can ensure a GV.

So I guess my point is, if you can be flexible and stay at any of the WDW resorts, the booking window is of a lesser concern. However, if you MUST HAVE a specific resort, it may become more of a concern. Since all the resorts have their plusses and minuses, we actually like trying different ones out over time.

As far as 38 years vs. 50 years, all I can say is that I wish we discovered DVC 12 years ago! Our first trip as a family was in 4/00 and in less than a year we were buying into DVC. We just fell in love with Disney. Since I'll be 76 when my VB and HH points expire, I may still care, but by then I hope to have enough SSR (and whatever else gets built!) points to keep me happy. My kids will care more than me!

As you saw in the resale market, SSR resale points are selling $6 - $7 more a point than say VWL or BCV; $10 more a point than HH and $14 more a point than VB. The reason is a combination of contract length, resort 'draw', and maintenance fees. The maintenance fees are the biggest determinant over time and we didn't realize this when we bought at VB. Regardless, we are still happy- couldn't have gotten a beach cottage unless we bought there OR traded.

 

[fkj2]

Your original post said you had young children so I'm assuming you are a younger couple. I'd go for the 50 years.

That's the funny thing about time. It has this way of escaping us. When I bought DVC back in 1992, I had like 48 or 49 years to use it. It's unbelievable that the last 10 years have blown by. Plus, you have to consider that people are living longer and probably will as scientific advancements occur. While 80 may be pushing the envelope now, in 20 years, that may rise to 100. Personally, I hope to be running over the youngsters to get to TOT when I'm 80.

 

[Dean]

I don't think the extra 12 years is worth it unless you want to stay at SSR most trips anyway. As for buying HH to use at HH and WDW, it depends on when you'd go to HH and how you'd go. If it's for long weekends, don't both with buying points for that. If it's not for summer or holidays, you can get in anyway. Buy HH is you'll go for summer or holidays, otherwise buy at WDW and get into HH at 7 month out any time.